IN an effort to ensure a robust fuel supply chain in the maritime sector the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) is urging ports worldwide to sign up to its Port Charter scheme to improve bunkering standards by delivering "quality, quantity and transparency".
The initiative comes at a time when the quality of bunkers is under intense scrutiny following the bankruptcy of major fuel supplier OW Bunkering after accusations of serious fraud surfaced.
Signatories to the IBIA Port Charter will be required to demonstrate that they have a licensing scheme for bunker suppliers in their port and that they are able to regulate and enforce their regulations covering bunkering operations.
In addition participants must show that there are enough sufficiently qualified personnel working in the bunker supply chain and that they have effective testing regimes in place.
Launching the scheme at the IBIA annual convention in Hamburg, IBIA chairman Jens Maul Jorgensen said: "As changes occur going forward with new fuels and variants designed to meet compliance, we need now more than ever to be vigilant in ensuring quality is maintained.
"It would be a great day for maritime commerce and the bunker industry if the perception that the quality of bunkers was habitually 'poor' or 'bad' was consigned to history."
The Port Charter already has the support of the ports of Rotterdam, Gibraltar and Singapore.
Maritime Port Authority of Singapore director Parry Oei said: "As a top bunkering port, we will continue to raise our bunkering standards to ensure fuel quality, quantity, and transparency in bunkering operations."
In October the International Maritime Organisation's MEPC 67 agreed to establish a group to develop draft guidance for assuring the quality of fuel oil for ships, and to consider the adequacy of the current legal framework in MARPOL Annex VI for assuring the quality of bunkers.
WORLD SHIPPING
13 November 2014 - 19:01
Industry moves to clean house after OW Bunker scandal
IN an effort to ensure a robust fuel supply chain in the maritime sector the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) is urging ports worldwide to sign up to its Port Charter scheme to improve bunkering standards by delivering "quality, quantity and transparency".
WORLD SHIPPING
13 November 2014 - 19:01
Industry moves to clean house after OW Bunker scandal
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